Knoxville, Tennessee Man Indicted on Two Counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion and Related Narcotics Charges

WASHINGTON—On Apr. 7, 2015, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, indicted Marcus Washington, 37, of Farragut, Tenn., charging him with two counts of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance; and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

The indictment, on file with the U.S. District Court, charges Washington with separate counts of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud and coercion in relation to two victims. He is also charged with conspiring with others to possess with the intent to distribute, and the distribution of, oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, also a Schedule II controlled substance. Lastly, Washington is charged with possessing with the intent to distribute oxycodone.

Washington faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ incarceration if convicted of either trafficking charge. Both narcotics charges carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knox County Attorney General’s Office provided significant support in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Nicholas Durham of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooklyn Sawyers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.